Pol van Boekel faced fresh scrutiny in the Champions League after failing to intervene in a controversial incident during FC Porto's 0-2 defeat to Manchester City. In the second half, Marc Guéhi caught Gabri Veiga in the face with his elbow during an aerial challenge, but referee Szymon Marciniak waved play on without consulting the VAR monitor.
The Manchester City defender's arm made clear contact with the Porto midfielder's face, forcing Veiga to leave the pitch for medical treatment. The Spanish player regained his composure and returned to action, but the decision left Porto's bench incensed. Coach Francesco Farioli gestured in disbelief from the touchline, while home supporters and players protested the non-call. Van Boekel's failure to recommend a pitchside review compounded the frustration, as VAR's primary role includes flagging serious fouls that referees may have missed.
Pattern of Controversial Decisions
This incident marks the second high-profile mishap for Van Boekel in recent days. The previous weekend, working as VAR in an Eredivisie match, he did not alert referee Sander van der Eijk to a contentious challenge by Ruben van Bommel on Aaron Bouwman. The accumulation of missed calls has raised questions about his fitness for elite-level fixtures.
According to reporting from De Telegraaf's Mike Verweij, Van Boekel is reportedly heading towards retirement, with discussions suggesting a departure sometime between December and January. Officials and analysts have suggested that continued high-profile errors significantly undermine confidence in his ability to perform at the highest level.
As VAR protocols continue to evolve across European competitions, consistency and clarity remain crucial to maintaining the sport's integrity. Van Boekel's handling of the Porto-City encounter will intensify debate about referee selection and the standards expected in Champions League football moving forward.
